Marion County >> 1872 Index

Pioneers of Marion County
by Wm. M. Donnel.  Des Moines: Republican Steam Printing House, 1872.

A

John W. Alley - pages 142 and 143

The first lawyer resident in the county was John W. Alley, more commonly known as Colonel Alley. Of his history previous to his settlement on Lake Prairie, we have been able to obtain no particulars. He immigrated from Indiana, and settled at the place above mentioned at an early date, after which he moved to Red Rock and from thence to Afton, Union county, where he died.

His reputation as an attorney was so good that he was constantly employed, and scarcely a case came upon trial in the Des Moines valley, within the bounds of the county, that the Colonel was not employed to pettifog for one side or the other and such was his popularity that it was supposed that whoever was lucky enough to secure his services was pretty sure of success in spite of justice. But, like many engaged in the profession, he was not scrupulous as to the means of winning a case, especially if the case chanced to be a difficult one, which was very frequent. At such times he would flatter the justice by language like this: "Now, in addressing a gentlemen of your discernment and intelligence, it is scarcely necessary to remind you," etc., and then proceed to quote the law of some other State provided he could find none among our own statutes that could be construed favorably to his client. It is related that one of the justices' dockets contained the record of the decision of a case in something like this style: "I have examined this case pro and con. Colonel Alley knows all about it, and says it is so and so, and I believe it is," and rendered his decision accordingly. Apparently the Colonel had been giving the justice some private counsel.

During his residence in this township the Colonel had some trouble with the Koonses in relation to a claim at the lower end of White Breast prairie, and was fired upon and slightly wounded in the arm, one night, as he was on his way home. Having ascertained the person of his intended assassin, he ambushed himself near the disputed claim, and awaited the appearance of Jasper Koons, who was hauling rails. When his intended victim hove in sight and was within easy range, the Colonel fired and bullet knocked the ox whip off the fellow's shoulder. Soon after this a compromise was effected, and Koons surrendered the claim on the receipt of a stipulated sum.

A few more instances might be related in which the Colonel was more or less concerned, but, as they transpired in Red Rock, they will more properly appear in the history of that township.